Mind Mapping for Dyslexics
The benefits of Mind Mapping are well known.
It is used by millions of people across the world for a wide variety of activities
from planning, organizing and learning to problem solving in settings ranging from
educational, professional or just at home.
It has been referred to as the ‘ultimate organizational thinking tool’. Mind Maps
have a natural structure that represents the brain’s natural image-filled thinking
processes and helps reinforce the ‘maps of thought’ in the brain. But what if these
‘maps of thoughts’ are even more disorganized than normal?
Widely accepted characteristics of dyslexia include poor memory, trouble with focusing,
planning, and organization. In general,
tasks also take longer to carry out. However, with Mind Mapping these problems are
eased. The colorful, symbolic and image
related stature means that Mind Maps are less dense than text. The substantial lack of words creates an easier and more effective environment
for the visual learner. Elaine Colliar, a Scottish accelerated-learning trainer
states, “Dyslexia is often likened to a circuit board where one component is missing,
therefore they have to devise a new strategy to wire that circuit board completely,
and Mind Mapping can assist dyslexics as it consist solely of images".
Getting ideas down on paper is often the most difficult part for students approaching
a task and many dyslexics can tend to drift and become distracted. However, when
you draw a Mind Map you are constantly seeing, in your peripheral vision, what you
have already done, whilst working on a new idea. This decreases the possibility
of losing your train of thought as you are automatically reviewing the rest of your
Mind Map.
Another huge benefit of Mind Mapping is that it provides structure. For example when planning an essay, the ideas in the Mind Map can be transferred
into a linear form, expanding images and single words into sentences and structured
paragraphs that remain focused on specific points.
The use of Mind Mapping has been made even more accessible with the introduction
of Mind Mapping software, including Tony Buzan’s (the founder of Mind Mapping) iMindMap
– the first software in history that fully captures the associative, organic nature
of human thought. Mind Mapping software has opened up opportunities far beyond its
‘traditional capabilities, creating an explosion in creativity, innovation and knowledge
sharing’. Mind Mapping software has proven popular in primary and secondary schools
as well as further and higher education by dyslexic and non-dyslexic students. Used
with interactive whiteboards, the whole class can participate. This fires imagination
and reinforces learning and encourages inclusion.
Planning or school work is usually an unattractive task
to any student, let alone one suffering from learning difficulties. However, using
Mind Mapping software means that maps can be created and saved, and then amended
at any time, with information being added or deleted. As they can then be stored
they are ideal to come back to for future use or revision. Instead of pages and
pages of linear uncreative notes, you produce bite sized chunks the mind can cope
with, making a subject easier to remember for a dyslexic sufferer. Mind Mapping enables thoughts to be organized enabling better work to be
produced, more thoroughly, correctly and quickly every time.
Physics - Light & Sound:
iMindMap File
Jpeg Image
PDF Document
Essay Plan:
iMindMap File
Jpeg Image
PDF Document
Please Note: All the example Mind Maps were created using Buzan's iMindMap™ - The
offical software from Tony Buzan, inventor of Mind Mapping.
To open and edit these files you will need to have iMindMap™ installed. If you do not
have iMindMap™ you can easily download and try the software for FREE by clicking
HERE.
About iMindMap™
Tony Buzan is the world’s leading expert on the brain and is the inventor of Mind Mapping®, the thinking
technique used by over 250 million people worldwide. Whilst many products have claimed to allow you to Mind Map on a
computer, none have managed to fully duplicate Tony’s world renowned process. Until now that is… iMindMap™ gives you
the infinite visual variety, portability, freedom, brain friendliness and effectiveness of traditional, highly proven
Mind Mapping® techniques. iMindMap™ is the ultimate thinking tool which allows you to work, learn and think smarter
so you can excel in any area of your life.
For more information on mind mapping, free videos, additional articles and to download a free trial of iMindMap™ visit www.iMindMap.com.
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